2007
Annual Report

UC Statewide IPM ProgramHIGHLIGHTS

UC IPM creates new urban and community IPM program

UC IPM is widening its focus to provide more help for urban and community
audiences while continuing to deliver resources and products that improve
agricultural integrated pest management.

Gearing up for her new role as Associate Director for Urban and Community
IPM, Mary Louise Flint is planning an urban and community IPM team meeting
early in 2008.

In addition to Flint, key members of the team include south coast IPM
Advisor Cheryl Wilen and Urban IPM Educator Karey
Windbiel-Rojas. UC IPM
will also be coordinating closely with ANR faculty and Cooperative Extension
specialists and advisors already serving these audiences to build programs
and prioritize research and extension needs that amplify UC’s existing
strengths.

“Expanding more aggressively to serve urban and residential areas
will allow the UC IPM Program to touch potentially every Californian,” says
Flint. “Many people associate integrated pest management and pesticide
problems primarily with agriculture. However, significant needs and problems
apply to residential and urban audiences, as well.”

The program's professional clientele include structural pest control operators,
landscape maintenance professionals, and maintenance gardeners. Many public
agencies are involved in managing pests in public parks, golf courses,
and buildings. Other groups include retail employees who sell pesticides,
pet groomers, commercial building managers, schools, and day care centers.

The list of potential pests is as diverse as the audience, but key pests
include termites, ants, snails and slugs, weeds in landscapes and rights-of-way,
rodents, cockroaches, spiders, and exotic and invasive species.

To reach the large potential audience, UC IPM will work with professional
groups, public agencies, retailers, and UC Master Gardeners. Programs will
be developed at a statewide level and adapted and implemented locally with
the cooperation of county Cooperative Extension advisors.

Over the short term, the primary products of this cooperation will likely
include train-the-trainer programs, educational and outreach materials, and
research and demonstration projects.

For noncommercial purposes only, any Web site may link directly to this page. FOR ALL OTHER USES or more information, read Legal Notices. Unfortunately, we cannot provide individual solutions to specific pest problems. See our Home page, or in the U.S., contact your local Cooperative Extension office for assistance.